Once a flea infestation takes hold of your pet, it can be extremely difficult to rectify. It’s highly likely that your cat will pick up fleas sooner or later, though, and the best way to prevent an infestation is to take a proactive approach using a flea treatment. There are several options available, from powders to shampoos and even pills, but one of the easiest methods is drops.
Flea drops are simply applied to the back of your cat’s neck and typically offer 30-day protection against infestations. They work by spreading through your cat’s glands. When a flea or tick ingests the chemical, they either drop off your cat or die. When used as directed, these drops are highly effective at preventing fleas and ticks.
There are many flea drops on the market, so it can be confusing to find the right one. We rounded up 10 of the best flea drops for cats and developed in-depth reviews to help you choose the right ones for your feline. Let’s get started!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Cats |
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Best Value
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PetArmor Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats |
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Premium Choice
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Cheristin Flea Spot Treatment for Cats |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Cats |
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Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats |
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The 9 Best Flea Drops for Cats
1. Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Cats — Best Overall
| Doses: | 6 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten (8 weeks of age or older and over 9 pounds of body weight) |
The Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Cats kills fleas on contact. It works for flea eggs too, thus breaking the lifecycle to prevent re-infestation, making it our top choice overall. The formula can be used safely on cats over 8 weeks old and over 9 pounds and will work for up to 4 weeks, even after bathing. The formula will begin working after 12 hours or so, and the pack comes in a 2-, 4-, or 6-month supply.
It’s important to note that this formula is not suitable for cats under 8 weeks old, and some customers reported that it took a bit longer than 12 hours for it to be effective, but these are still the best flea drops for cats.
2. PetArmor Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats — Best Value
| Doses: | 3 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten (8 weeks of age or older and over 1.5 pounds of body weight) |
The PetArmor Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats are the best flea drops for cats for the money. The formula contains the number-one vet-recommended ingredient for fleas, fipronil, which works effectively and quickly to kill adult fleas and ticks. It is specially formulated for cats 1.5 pounds and over, making it ideal for both adults and kittens. The formula is waterproof, and each treatment will last for up to 4 weeks.
Finopril alone does not kill flea eggs, so treatment should be continued to avoid reinfestations and break the cycle.
3. Cheristin Flea Spot Treatment for Cats — Premium Option
| Doses: | 6 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten (8 weeks of age or older and over 1.8 pounds of body weight) |
If you’re looking for a premium, effective tick-and-flea treatment for your feline, look no further than the Cheristin Flea Spot Treatment for Cats. The formula is fast acting: It begins killing ticks and fleas within 30 minutes of application and kills 98% to 100% of fleas within 12 hours. The formula lasts for up to 30 days and comes with 6 months’ worth of applications. It is a breeze to apply with the ready-to-use applicator. The effective formula is suitable for adult cats but gentle enough for kittens over the age of 8 weeks too.
This formula is expensive, though, and several customers reported that it had a pungent odor after application.
4. Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Cats — Best for Kittens
| Doses: | 2 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Kitten (8 weeks of age or older and between 2 and 5 pounds of body weight) |
Formulated specially for cats 8 weeks or older, the Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment for Kittens is the best choice for your new kittens. The formula kills all life stages of fleas, helping to prevent re-infestation later, and the waterproof formula is effective for up to 30 days. Advantage II will begin working within 12 hours of application, is suitable for cats between 2 and 5 pounds, and contains the vet-recommended ingredients imidacloprid and pyriproxyfen.
Considering that this pack only contains 2 months’ worth of treatments, it is fairly pricey. Also, numerous customers reported that its effectiveness only lasted a week or so, which is disappointing because you should not dose more than twice a month.
5. Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats
| Doses: | 6 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten (8 weeks of age or older and over 1.5 pounds of body weight) |
Frontline has long been the go-to for tick-and-flea protection for both cats and dogs and is a trusted brand among pet owners. The Frontline Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats is no different and provides effective and long-lasting flea protection for up to 30 days per dose. The formula is effective for all flea life stages—eggs, larvae, and adults—and contains the active ingredients fipronil and (S)-methoprene to help prevent future infestations. The formula is waterproof, is effective within 24 hours after application, and is ideal for cats weighing over 1.5 pounds.
Our main concern with this formula is that it is only effective after 24 hours and even longer in some cases. Also, some customers reported that it only worked effectively for 1 or 2 weeks.
6. Sentry FiproGuard Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats
| Doses: | 6 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kittens (8 weeks of age and older, all body weights) |
The Sentry FiproGuard Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats from Sentry contains fipronil, the ingredient used by many of the world’s most effective spot treatments for cats, and is available for a low price. The formula is effective at killing fleas and ticks for up to 30 days after application. It is also waterproof and suitable for cats 8 weeks and older. It helps protect against chewing lice too.
While this formula boasts 12-week effectiveness, most customers report that it stopped working after 3–4 weeks at most and has a strong odor.
7. Virbac EFFIPRO Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats
| Doses: | 3 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kittens (8 weeks of age and older and over 1.5 pounds of body weight) |
The Virbac EFFIPRO Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats works immediately after application and provides relief from not only ticks and fleas but also flea eggs and larvae, mosquitos, and chewing lice. The formula uses a powerful blend of highly effective fipronil and pyriproxyfen to keep your cat flea and tick free for up to 30 days, and it is completely waterproof and UV resistant. It is suitable for adult cats, as well as kittens 8 weeks and older and weighing more than 1.5 pounds.
This formula is fairly expensive, and many customers reported that it took a while to become effective.
8. Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats
| Doses: | 3 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult (12 weeks and older) |
The Hartz UltraGuard Plus Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats kills fleas, flea eggs, and ticks and repels mosquitos. The formula stops the flea lifecycle to help prevent further infestations. It is effective for up to 30 days after application and contains the active ingredients etofenprox and (S)-methoprene for fast-acting and effective flea-and-tick prevention. The package comes with a 3-month supply and is suitable for cats 12 weeks and older.
This spot treatment can be used on kittens, but only those that are 12 weeks and older, which is older than most other flea spot treatments. Also, it has a strong odor and watery consistency that makes it difficult to apply.
9. Catego Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats
| Doses: | 3 monthly doses |
| Lifestage: | Adult, kitten (8 weeks of age and older and over 1.5 pounds of body weight) |
Catego Flea & Tick Spot Treatment for Cats contains 3 months’ worth of doses and is effective within just 6 hours of application. It works for flea eggs and larvae and chewing lice too. It is designed with an easy-to-use, patented applicator tip that makes it a breeze to reach under your cat’s coat. It is effective for up to 30 days after application. The formula contains the active ingredients dinotefuran, fipronil, and pyriproxyfen, which work to kill fleas of all life stages and help prevent further re-infestation. It’s safe for use on cats above 8 weeks old or over 1.5 pounds.
Many customers reported that this formula was only effective for around a week after application, and then they noticed fleas again. It’s also comparatively expensive for only three doses.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Flea Drops for Cats
Flea infestations can be a real headache for pet owners, so naturally, you want the treatment that you choose to get rid of them to be as effective and safe as possible. Fleas are not only irritating for you and your cat, but they can also cause potentially serious health issues, like anemia. Also, some cats are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause skin infections from the constant scratching.
When it comes to treating fleas in cats, there are several options available:
All these products have varying degrees of efficacy, depending on their use, but spot treatments are arguably the simplest.
What to Look For When Buying Flea Drops for Cats
In general, flea drops are simple products, and almost all the drops on the market work in the same way. What differentiates these products from one another are their active ingredients. Common ingredients used in these formulas include:
- Fipronil: Fipronil is a broad-spectrum insecticide that has been used in agricultural applications, but it is one of the most effective ingredients in spot treatments for cats. The chemical stores itself beneath the sebaceous glands of your cat’s skin and is then secreted with the natural oils of your cat’s coat to kill fleas on contact.
- (S)-methoprene: (S)-methoprene acts as a growth regulator when used as an insecticide, meaning it doesn’t kill fleas or ticks when ingested, but rather interferes with their life cycle and prevents them from reproducing.
- Dinotefuran: Dinotefuran is a broad-spectrum insecticide that kills fleas and ticks on contact, but it is safe for cats due to the minute levels that it’s used in with spot treatments.
- Pyriproxyfen: A pesticide found to be effective against a variety of insects, pyriproxyfen is effective for fleas and ticks but also helps protect against mosquitos.
- Imidacloprid: Imidacloprid is an anti-parasitic chemical that is effective against fleas and ticks but is safe for topical use on cats.
Potential Flea Drop Side Effects
When used correctly, flea spot treatments are effective and safe to use on cats. Of course, some cats are more sensitive than others and may have side effects that range from excessive salivation to respiratory distress and muscle tremors. Cats are fastidious groomers, and therein lies the risk of ingestion that is less of a risk with dogs. This is why it’s vital to use drops that are made specifically for cats and to use the products only as directed. If you have a sensitive cat and have concerns, it’s important to consult with your vet before using these treatments.
Side effects include:
- Skin irritation
- Congestion
- Listlessness
- Excessive salivation
- Paw flicking
- Ear twitching
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Depression
- Muscle tremors
If you notice any of these signs in your cat, you’ll need to take them to a vet right away.
Conclusion
The Bayer Advantage II Flea Spot Treatment kills fleas on contact, and it works for flea eggs too, breaking the life cycle to prevent re-infestation. It will work for up to 4 weeks even after bathing, making it our overall best flea drop for cats.
This Flea and Tick Spot Treatment from PetArmor is the best flea drop for cats for the money because it contains the number-one vet-recommended ingredient, fipronil, it is waterproof, and each treatment will last for up to 4 weeks.
If you’re looking for a premium effective tick-and-flea treatment for your feline, the Spot Treatment from Cheristin is a great choice, with a fast-acting formula that begins killing ticks and fleas within 30 minutes of application. It can kill 98% to 100% of fleas within 12 hours.
The market is flooded with flea-and-tick products nowadays, making it difficult for a cat owner to choose the right product. Hopefully, these in-depth reviews have narrowed the options and helped you choose the best drop treatment to keep your feline free of fleas!
Featured Image Credit:Â Csaba Deli, Shutterstock
